When the To-Do List Just Doesn't

I seem to be permanently stuck in that level of Hell called "Poor Time Management," and I'm wondering if my to-do list might be part of the problem. Today is a perfect example. Between teaching a class, appointments with clients, and driving my son to his tennis lesson three towns over--and then back again--I know that I have only three hours in which to tackle everything on the list. Nonetheless, I've written down 17 separate tasks.

This might not be as crazy as it sounds, under certain circumstances. If, say, every task were simple, it took no more than 10 minutes, and I wanted to do it, I'd be home free. Like if Items 1-6 were "Read back issues of People Magazine while getting a pedicure," 7-13 were "Watch an episode of The Gilmore Girls," and the last four were "Meet a friend for coffee," then I could do everything on my to-do list.

But, of course, that's not what's there. No, my list has tasks like: 1. Do taxes (Too late for an extension? Call IRS and find out.); 4. Clean mold off basement walls; 7. Weight lifting--at least an hour; 9. Write draft of article, "The Magic of Mulch," (due Friday!!!!); 13. Replace office filing system with one that works; and 17. Return seriously, possibly criminally, overdue DVDs and try to get manager to reduce fine.

Nothing on that list is simple. Every task would need many different steps, and Item 4 requires a hazmat suit. Nothing will take only 10 minutes. In fact, some of them could take days or weeks. And my level of enthusiasm for any of them? So low as to not be detectable.

The reality is that not one thing on that list is going to get done today. So why bother writing it at all? Wait, that could be Item 18: Figure out why I compose impossible to-do lists.

Comments

[Ariane Benefit from Neat Living]

Carol, I feel your pain coming through my computer! You have your answer between the lines of your post. Many of the items on your list are actually whole projects! Your daily To Do List should only have 5-10 things you can realistically do that day!

The trick is to keep a master project list and refer it for your daily To Dos. Break each project down into smaller tasks. Then each day or week do a small task that will get you closer to completing the task.

For example, a task toward a new file system would be: "Weed 3 existing file folders each day till all the old paper is cleaned out" Another might be "Buy a good ready made file system"

Wishing you all the best!
Ariane